First Sunday of Lent 2007

24 February 2007

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ

Pastoral Letter for the First Sunday in Lent

Before he went into the desert, Jesus at his baptism was proclaimed as the beloved Son on whom God's favour rests. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led into the wilderness where he was tempted. Traditionally the desert was seen as a lonely place, where there was no hospitality, no protection, where a person was utterly alone facing hostile forces. There was no where to hide and a person was exposed to the truth about himself or herself. In the desert Jesus is tempted to deny his identity. The devil challenges him: If you are the Son of God, prove it.

Jesus proved it not by magic or creating a celebrity cult, but by being faithful to his Father's will. And because he was faithful, he was able to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, to the blind new sight, to the downtrodden freedom and to everyone, the Lord's year of favour.

On Ash Wednesday, we were called to turn away from sin and to be faithful to the Gospel. The invitation was to each of us personally and as members of the community of the Church. We enter the wilderness to face up to what it means to be the Church. Lent is a time to look at where we are going as we set our path towards Easter – seeking the face of the risen Christ.

This Lent I am holding a number of meetings in different parts of the Diocese – Trowbridge, Taunton, Cheltenham and Bristol. These gatherings are for members of all our parish, deanery and diocesan pastoral councils. As clergy and laity we will look at the present and the future, discerning the way ahead for us all. What is begun at these meetings, I hope will continue in every parish and community of our Diocese. Together, we are beginning a process of drawing up pastoral guidelines that can give direction to all communities but at the same time respecting differences in place and need.

Why are we doing this? The reason is that we live in both a changing Church and a changing world. In this world the Church is called to proclaim and live the Gospel, knowing the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time. The future of the Church and of humanity rests with those who are capable of providing generations to come with reasons for living and hoping.

As we look to the future we may be fearful. There is a temptation to build barriers and hide behind them. If we do this, we are refusing to be the Church, because the very nature of the Church is to look outwards and transform the society of which we are part. We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Another temptation is to want to be organised in such a way that we know exactly where we are going and what we must do. The life of Jesus was not like that. His journey to Jerusalem took him into strange situations and foreign places. In some of those places he was welcomed; in others not. But in all places Jesus came to proclaim the love of God. People were healed and reconciled to God and one another. He came to heal the wounds of sin and division. And so too must the Church.

During Lent, I invite us all to ask whether we are being faithful to the Gospel and to ask what we must do to reflect the sacrificial love of Christ which brings life to all. What must we let go of personally and within our communities. It is not easy to let go especially if it is something that may have served us well in the past but may be hindering our way ahead because of changed circumstances.

We seek the face of the Lord so we may reflect his love. We are not only called the Church, we need to be the Church. We seek the face of Christ. We know we will find him because the promise of Jesus is "Seek and you will find"

With my best wishes and prayers
Bishop of Clifton

To be read and / or made available in all Churches and Chapels in the Clifton Diocese on the 1st Sunday of Lent 24 and 25 February 2007